Design Jargon: Words, Definitions & Acronyms Defined

Design Tips
1-Stop
25 Nov 2022
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So, you want to hire a designer to create your logo or website but don’t know design words and terms? Having a conversation with a designer can sound like another language when you have no idea what they’re talking about…

Here are a few design words, definitions and acronyms designers use:

Design Words

Vectors

vectors-01

Vector graphics are visuals that are comprised of geometrical shapes, as opposed to tiny pixel dots. Their advantage to the pixel-based Bitmap graphics is that they can be scaled better for much larger sizes. Technically, vectors are made by stretching strokes from one point to the other. Though you may be imagining squares or triangles, vector graphics are also used to create a huge variety of images. They’re most commonly used for logos, icons and infographic designs.

Bitmap

Unlike vectors, bitmap visuals are made out of pixels – those tiny color dots that are now infamous for 80’s computer game design. Bitmap images always depend on the resolution. If you zoom in too much, you will be able to see the dots that comprise the full image. For instance – every photo that you take with your camera is a Bitmap image.

Color Systems Guide

CMYK

Also known as “Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Key (Black) Color Model”, CMYK is a common color scheme identified with print graphics. The four colors at the base of this model represent the ink colors injected by printers. Their various combinations create the color spectrum you see on printed materials.

RGB

Also known as “Red, Green and Blue Color Model”. If CMYK is for print, RGB is the color model of digital graphics. Unlike printers, computer screens “transmit” red, green and blue colors to create the digital palette. RGB is therefore the color model for digital design.

HEX

‘Hexadecimal numbers’ is a human-friendly way to communicate RGB colors, geared for web design, coding and everything web. “There is no informational difference between RGB and HEX colors; they are simply different ways of communicating the same thing – a red, green, and blue color value.” Simply put, HEX is a numeric character-based reference of RGB numbers specifically for web designers and coders.

Different color types: RGB, HEX, CMYK, and Pantone

Web Design Lingo

Responsive

What can web design respond to, you ask? To the type of device that it’s viewed with, of course. With the rise of mobile and tablet web usage, responsive design – web design that makes sure your site looks great on all devices – is a key condition when designing a website.

So, the next time you talk with your designer, you’ll sound like a pro!